It was a July 4 to remember. The nation was under threat. Annihilation was at hand. The president made an impassioned speech, issuing a call to unite and fight back. Donald Trump? No, it was the fictional President Thomas J. Whitmore, who won us over years ago with his inspiring oratory in “Independence Day.” For the latest real-life Winners & Losers, read on.

Winners:

Josh Kushner

While Jared Kushner has struggled to achieve peace in the Middle East, improve relations with China and end the opioid epidemic, his little bro Josh Kushner is flying under the radar – and raking in $3.5 million in state tax credits as the co-founder of Oscar Health. And despite the best efforts of the Trump administration – which, of course, includes big brother Jared – to kill off Obamacare, a Times analysis finds that Oscar and other insurers in the largely subsidized federal health insurance exchanges are stabilizing and even thriving.

Pat Lynch

Let’s turn that body cam into a body CAN’T. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president won a injunction on appeal, meaning that footage from NYPD officers’ body cameras can’t be released to the public – at least until the case is heard again in November. The union has complained for months that the NYPD’s release of footage is a breach of privacy – and cops would NEVER breach anyone’s privacy.

Tracy Mitrano

Those waiting with bated breath on the results of Congressional District 23’s Democratic primary can now let out a sigh of relief … unless they supported Max Della Pia. Tracy Mitrano squeaked by to the race that was originally too close to call, after Della Pia conceded. Now Mitrano will now embark on an uphill campaign against Rep. Tom Reed, the Republican who has held the seat since 2010.

Want a quick salary bump? Try dating the boss. That’s one lesson to be drawn from Gannett Albany’s story about Jessica Williams, who began dating her boss, state Sen. Fred Akshar, and more than doubled her pay in two and a half years, with eight raises and three promotions. The senator’s office just reassigned Williams – at least on paper – and insists everything was above board. Then again, does anyone think the supposed staff “transition” would have happened without a call from a reporter?

Losers:

Andy Byford

Half a year into his job to save the subways, and poor Byford can't get a call from the New York City mayor or the governor. A New York magazine profile revealed that Byford hasn't heard from de Blasio and has had difficulty setting up meetings with the governor. Quite ironic for Byford who, at his last job, was frequently woken up by calls from Toronto's former crack-addicted mayor. Cuomo was quick to clarify he met with Byford “a number of times” and de Blasio quickly penciled in a July 10 meeting. But that's of little comfort given that the two continue to play political football with Byford's $37 billion repair plan.

Bill de Blasio

Yeah, the mayor doesn’t control the subways, but doesn’t he at least CARE about them? After six months on the job, NYC Transit chief Andy Byford said he’s yet to meet with de Blasio – maybe because the mayor’s been busy studying up on lead contamination, eager to push blame away from NYCHA housing and towards… toy jewelry? Artificial turf? Old gasoline? Just take it from the CDC: “Lead-based paint is the most widespread and dangerous high-dose source of lead exposure for young children.”

Judith Clark

Despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2016 commutation of the former Weather Underground member’s jail sentence, the parole board still views her acts of early ’80s extremism as a threat to society. Clark, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the Brink's robbery case, has long been pushing for release, but the parole board ruled that her crimes outweighed her transformation in prison. Since a ruling against that decision was halted, she’ll have to wait for her own appeal to take its course or until next spring when she’s back up for a parole hearing.

Matthew Podolsky

The prosecution rests. Wait, no it doesn’t! In the bombshell Buffalo Billion bid-rigging case against Alain Kaloyeros and Louis Ciminelli, prosecutors from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York failed to establish geographic jurisdiction over the matter, which is critical since they’re based in Manhattan while the case centers on Western New York. Fortunately for Podolsky and the other federal prosecutors, the judge rejected the defense’s complaints and let this one pass.

Harvey Weinstein

It wasn’t so long ago that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. wouldn’t bring any charges against movie producer Harvey Weinstein, even with taped evidence against him. Under the glare of the media spotlight, Vance is now pursuing cases against Weinstein quite aggressively – and just brought additional sexual assault charges against him involving a third woman. While the #MeToo movement clearly is having an impact, one would have wanted the DA to bring cases like these much earlier.

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As founder and research director of the Empire Center for Public Policy, E.J. McMahon is a go-to expert on budget plans and policy proposals. His organization promotes greater transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility in state government, which often puts him at odds with lawmakers and the governor. McMahon previously worked as a journalist in Albany, as an Assembly Republican staffer and a budget adviser for almost 30 years, giving him great insight into the goings-on in the Capitol.